Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Basílica do Senhor Bom Jesus
de Matosinhos, Congonhas
6
Completed in 1771, the Baroque church of Bom Jesus de
Matosinhos was built by the diamond miner Feliciano
Mendes, who, after recovering from the brink of death,
vowed to build a church in homage to “Bom Jesus.”
At the entrance of the church, 12 soapstone statues of
prophets from the Old Testament overlook a gently
sloping garden, where six chapels containing life-size
figures commemorate episodes from the Passion of
Christ. The church is famous for preserving the most
impressive ensemble of statues in Latin America,
carved by Aleijadinho between 1780 and 1814.
Painted Ceiling
Painted by Bernardo Pires
da Silva in 1776, the art-
work on the ceiling is
regarded as the
finest Rococo
church paint-
ing in Brazil.
Hosea
Joel
Nahum
Ezekiel
Daniel
Jonah
Amos
Baruch
Carved Altar
Designed by sculptor
Aleijadinho, the altar
was beautifully carved
by his disciple, João
Antunes de Carvalho.
Obadiah
Jeremiah
Isaiah
The sculpture of
Isaiah has narrow
shoulders and
disproportionately short
arms, and is thought to
have been carved by
Aleijadinho's students.
The Crucifixion
is particularly
grisly, depicting
smiling soldiers
hammering nails
into a spread-
eagled Christ, his
face contorted
in agony.
.
The Prophet
Habakukk
Aleijadinho's sculptures
are celebrated for having
an air of theatricality and
accentuated charac-
teristics, both striking in his
statue of Habakukk.
STAR SIGHTS
.
The Prophet Habakukk
. The Capture of Christ
.
The Last Supper
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp372-3 and pp398-9
